A container

ABSTRACT

A container comprising a receptacle having an opening, a lid located over the opening of the receptacle and removably attached to the receptacle, and a tab attached to the lid; wherein detachment of the tab from the lid creates or exposes an aperture in the lid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers for holding liquids and fluid foods and in particular, to containers having an air gap above the liquid and fluid foods. The invention has been developed for use as a food container on an aircraft and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Food items served on an aircraft are typically pre-packaged before delivery. Accordingly, most cold liquid or fluid food items are usually sealed in containers at ground level before takeoff.

Typical containers used to hold food items and/or liquids include a plastic base with a lid in the form of a layer of plastic removably attached to the base. The filled container will usually have an air gap between the food or drink and the lid of the container.

As the container is sealed at ground level, the air gap is normally pressurized at ambient air pressure. As the aircraft gains altitude, the ambient air pressure in the aircraft drops and a pressure differential develops between the air gap in the container and the aircraft. In this case, the pressure in the air gap may be greater than that of the surroundings. The pressure differential increases the force required to peel back the lid of the container. As a result, upon forcibly opening the container by peeling away part of the lid, the fluid food or liquid can spill all over the passenger.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a container comprising:

a receptacle having an opening,

a lid located over the opening of the receptacle and removably attached to the receptacle, and

a tab attached to the lid;

wherein detachment of the tab from the lid creates or exposes an aperture in the lid.

The receptacle may be shaped in various ways. For example, the receptacle may have a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially cuboid shape such as a box. Alternatively, the receptacle may have a substantially frustoconical shape. Accordingly, the receptacle may have one or more sidewalls.

The receptacle may have one cavity. Alternatively, the receptacle may have two or more cavities separated from each other by one or more sidewalls.

The receptacle may comprise at least one side wall and a bottom, defining a cavity for holding liquid or other fluid food.

The upper edges of the one or more sidewalls may define one or more openings of the receptacle. The lid may extend over the entire opening of the receptacle such that the liquid or food item may be sealed within the receptacle.

The lid may be made of a flexible material. For example, the lid may comprise a layer of foil or plastic.

The lid may be adhered to an upper edge of the receptacle by glue. Alternatively, the plastic may be heat sealed onto the upper edge of the receptacle. The attachment between the lid and tab is sufficient to form an airtight sealing of the cavity.

The lid may comprise an overhanging portion extending beyond the upper edge of the container. The overhanging portion may extend beyond the upper edge along the entire periphery of the upper edge of the container. For example, the overhang portion may comprise a skirt.

Alternatively, the overhanging portion may only extend beyond a portion of the periphery of the upper edge of the container. In this embodiment, the overhang portion may be gripped by the user to peel off the lid from the container. The overhang portion may be suitably sized and shaped for ease of gripping.

The tab may be releasably attached to the lid. For example, an end of the tab may be adhered to a top surface of the lid. The end of the tab may be adhered to the surface of the lid near the centre of the lid.

Alternatively, the tab may be integral with the lid. In a preferred embodiment, the tab may extend from a portion of a periphery of the lid to a terminal end of the tab.

The tab may be substantially elongate. Alternatively, the tab may have a predominant width. Alternatively, the tab may be semicircular or be arcuate in shape.

The tab is may be moveable from a first position in which the tab is adhered to the lid to a second position in which the tab is detached from the lid. When the tab is in the second position, the tab may be gripped by the user and used to peel off the lid.

The lid may include an aperture that is sealed by the tab. In this embodiment, detachment of the tab causes a pre-existing aperture in the lid to be exposed. The lid may comprise a plurality of pre-existing apertures which are exposed when the tab is released.

In another embodiment, detachment of the tab causes an aperture to be created in the lid. In this embodiment, a plurality of apertures may be created. In an example, the lid may comprise a weakened portion. The tab may be attached to or adjacent the weakened portion.

The aperture may be located a distance from the periphery of the lid. For example, the aperture may be located near a centre of the lid. Alternatively, the aperture may be located adjacent the periphery of the lid.

The aperture may take a variety of shapes. For example, the aperture may have a circular cross-section or a square cross-section. Alternatively, the aperture may be a slit.

The aperture may have various sizes. For example, the aperture may be the size of a pin prick or alternatively, sized to accommodate a typical straw.

The force required to detach the tab from the lid maybe less than that of detaching the lid from the receptacle. In this way, detachment of the tab may not inadvertently remove the lid from the receptacle.

The force required to detach the tab from the lid maybe less than the force required to tear the lid.

The weakened portion may be configured such that the force of detaching the tab pulls the weakened portion off the lid or otherwise ruptures the lid. For example, the weakened portion can comprise frangible sections such that when the tab is moved from the first to the second position, an aperture is created.

The invention may further comprise a method of unsealing a container including the steps of:

moving a tab is from a first position in which the tab is attached to the lid, the lid also attached to a receptacle to a second position in which the tab is detached from the lid to cause air to pass into the receptacle.

The detachment of the tab may cause a pre-existing aperture in the lid to be exposed. The lid may comprise a plurality of pre-existing apertures which are exposed when the tab is released.

The detachment of the tab may cause an aperture to be created in the lid. In this embodiment, a plurality of apertures may be created. In an example, the lid may comprise a weakened portion. The tab may be attached to or adjacent the weakened portion.

The weakened portion may be configured such that the force of detaching the tab pulls the weakened portion off the lid or otherwise ruptures the lid. For example, the weakened portion can comprise frangible sections such that when the tab is moved from the first to the second position, an aperture is created.

The force required to detach the tab from the lid maybe less than that of detaching the lid from the receptacle. In this way, detachment of the tab may not inadvertently remove the lid from the receptacle.

The force required to detach the tab from the lid maybe less than the force required to tear the lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, embodiments are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the container when the tab is in the first position.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when the tab is in the second position.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 in which the lid is peeled back.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a container 10 that can be used to package water or other liquids for consumption on an aircraft. The container 10 has a receptacle 11 and a lid 12. The receptacle 11 is configured to hold fluid food (such as soups) or drinks. It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the container may be modified to hold hot or cold foods.

The receptacle 11 has a single sidewall 111 and a bottom wall 112 which defines a cavity 113. The cavity 113 is used to hold food or drinks. It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the receptacle 11 may be differently shaped and/or have a number of sidewalls. It should also be appreciated that the receptacle 11 may have more than one cavity depending on the number and relative positioning of sidewalls.

The receptacle 11 is made of a flexible polymeric material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It should be appreciated that the receptacle 11 may be made of other flexible or rigid materials such as polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic or glass.

An upper edge of the sidewall 111 defines an opening 113 of the receptacle. The lid 12 extends over the entire opening 113 of the receptacle 11 and has is substantially circular shape. The lid 12 is sized such that it overhangs slightly beyond the periphery of the opening 113 as shown by the dashed lines.

The lid 12 is heat sealed to the upper edge of the sidewall 11 to create an airtight seal of the cavity 113. It should be appreciated that the lid 12 can be glued onto the upper edge of the sidewall 11.

The attachment between the lid 12 and receptacle 11 is sufficient to form an airtight seal of the opening 113 of the receptacle 11 yet to allow the user to peel the lid 12 off the upper edge of the receptacle 11, relatively easily.

The tab 13 is an extension of the lid 12. That is, the tab 13 extends beyond the lid 12 from a portion of the periphery of the lid 12 to a terminal end 131. FIG. 2 shows that the tab 13 is substantially elongate. It is envisioned that in alternative embodiments, the tab 13 can have a variety of shapes and sizes.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the lid 12 and tab 13 can be manufactured in one piece without requiring the tab 13 to be attached to the lid 12 in a subsequent manufacturing step.

The lid 12 is also punctured or otherwise pierced during manufacture to form an aperture 14 through the lid 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the aperture 14 is located between the centre of the lid 12 and the portion of the periphery of the lid 12 from which the tab 13 extends. It is envisioned that in alternative embodiments, the aperture 14 can be located adjacent or at the centre of the lid 12. It is also envisioned that the aperture 14 can be located near another portion of the periphery of the lid 12.

The aperture 14 is a relatively small aperture. It should be appreciated that the aperture may be sized to accommodate a typical straw such that, if the user may choose not to remove the entire lid, they may use the aperture to access the drink via a straw.

The end of the tab 13 is attached to the lid 12 over the pre-existing aperture 14 in order to seal the aperture to enclose the cavity 113 in an airtight manner. It is envisioned that in an alternative embodiment, the end of the tab 131 may be attached to or adjacent a weakened portion of the lid 12, which may perforate upon removal of the tab 14.

When the tab 13 is attached to the lid 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tab 13 is in a first position. In this first position, the tab 13 extends away from the periphery of the lid 12, across the lid 12 of the container 10 and over the pre-existing aperture 14. A fold 132 is formed in the tab 13 adjacent the periphery of the lid 12, where the tab 13 reverses onto itself.

In this way, the lid 12 and tab 13 together have a flat configuration, which is easier to handle and helps prevent inadvertent detachment of the tab 13 from the lid 12 before or after it is applied to the container 10, by, for example, snagging on an object.

In order to gain access to the food or drink located within the receptacle, the tab 13 is moved by the user from the first position 10 in which the container is airtight, to the second position in which the aperture is exposed in the lid 12 such that the airtight integrity of the container 10 is compromised.

When the user pulls or lifts an end of the tab 131 in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 2 and/or away from the lid 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, the pre-existing aperture 14 is exposed while the lid remains adhered on the receptacle as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Air is released from the air gap of the container 10 through the aperture 14, which allows for the pressure inside the air gap to equalize with that of the ambient air pressure in the aircraft. This decreases the relative force required by the user to open the container 10.

It should be appreciated that in situations where the pressure inside the air gap is less than that of the surroundings, ingress of air into the air gap through the aperture 14 will allow for the pressure inside the air gap to equalize with the ambient air pressure in the aircraft. This will decrease the relative force required by the user to open the container 10.

The respective attachments between the tab 13 and lid 12, and between the lid 12 and the receptacle 11 are so configured that the force required to detach the tab 13 from the lid 12 is less than that required to detach the lid 12 from the receptacle 11. In this way, detachment of the tab 13 does not inadvertently remove any part of the lid 12 from the receptacle 11 or tear the lid 12.

After the tab 13 is moved to the second position 10, the tab 13 can be used as a “pull-tab” by the user to peel the lid 12 off the receptacle 10 by pulling the tab up and across the lid 12 of the container 10, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The size and shape of the tab 13 allows the user sufficient purchase to comfortably pull the lid 12 off the receptacle 11.

While the embodiments of the containers described here are suitable for use in an aircraft, it is envisioned that they can be configured for use in a variety of contexts in which a pressure differential exists between the air gap in an airtight container and the surroundings. For example, the dimensions of the container according to the illustrated embodiments may be scaled to suit any volume of liquid or fluid food. Alternatively, the container may be made of various materials depending on operational requirements. Such modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a receptacle having an opening, a lid located over the opening of the receptacle and removably attached to the receptacle, and a tab attached to the lid; wherein detachment of the tab from the lid creates or exposes an aperture in the lid.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has one or more sidewalls.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a single cavity.
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has two or more cavities separated from each other by one or more sidewalls.
 5. The container of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises at least one side wall and a bottom, defining a cavity for holding liquid or other fluid food.
 6. The container of claim 1 wherein upper edges of the one or more sidewalls defines one or more openings of the receptacle.
 7. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid extends over the entire opening of the receptacle to seal the receptacle.
 8. The container of anyone of the preceding claims claim 1 wherein the tab is releasably attached to the lid.
 9. The container of claim 1 wherein the tab is integral with the lid.
 10. The container of claim 1 wherein the tab is moveable from a first position in which the tab is adhered to the lid to a second position in which the tab is detached from the lid.
 11. The container of claim 1 in which the lid includes an aperture that is sealed by the tab.
 12. The container of claim 1 wherein the aperture is sized to accommodate a typical straw.
 13. A method of unsealing a container including the steps of: moving a tab from a first position in which the tab is attached to the lid, the lid also attached to a receptacle, to a second position in which the tab is detached from the lid to cause air to pass into the receptacle.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the detachment of the tab causes a pre-existing aperture in the lid to be exposed.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the detachment of the tab causes an aperture to be created in the lid.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the force required to detach the tab from the lid is less than the force required to detach the lid from the receptacle. 